Words of the prophet Amos: There are those who turn justice into bitterness and cast righteousness to the ground. Amos 5:7
Amos was a prophet of the Kingdom of Israel, and he probably preached during the reigns of Jeroboam II, king of Israel, and Amaziah, king of Judah. Amos was one of the first prophets to commit his oracles to writing, unlike earlier prophets such as Elijah or Elisha, of whom only the accounts in the Books of Kings remain.
As a prophet, Amos preached against injustice and impiety, and he reminded, without openly expressing it, of the existence of the two paths for man, righteousness and sin. And this is why many oracles of Amos are related to the sapiential literature. And so the prophet denounced the evil path that the Kingdom of Samaria was taking, with all its ruling class, who since the time of King Jeroboam, had accepted the two golden calves that the King ordered to be built, with these wise words: "'My people have forgotten how to do right,' says the LORD. 'Their fortresses are filled with wealth taken by theft and violence'" Amos 3:10.
Blessedness and misfortune were before the eyes of those who held power in the Kingdom of Israel, and this fact, according to the sapiential literature, brings a problem, because men have the freedom to choose the path, but not its consequences. And so the prophet Amos prophesied the destruction of the Kingdom of Israel, and its capital Samaria, at a time when there was no significant threat to the Kingdom.
Therefore, the prophet continued his teaching and clearly explained that there is no long-term security for those who practice the path of error, this is why the prophet pronounced a warning to Israel: "There are those who turn justice into bitterness and cast righteousness to the ground" Amos 5:7. The words of warning of the prophet could not be taken in vain.
But the prophet then explained that destiny was not something fixed or predetermined, so he explained that the Kingdom of Israel still had time to choose blessedness and thus avoid the destruction that was approaching at the hands of the Assyrian empire. This is why the prophet called the Kingdom of Israel to repentance and conversion of heart with these wise words: "Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the LORD God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is" Amos 5:14.
With these teachings, Amos explained that the future is not something predetermined, but rather something that is built with present decisions; but also the life of men with their freedom is within the divine plan, hence the weight of prophecies, and the retributions of the laws established by God. Men are responsible for their freedom, Amos summarized.

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